More Articles

ALBANY, N.Y. — Jumping out ahead of the federal government, New York state enacted the nation’s
toughest gun restrictions yesterday, including an expanded assault-weapon ban and background checks
for buying ammunition. They are the first limits since the Connecticut school massacre.

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the measure into law less than an hour after it won final
passage in the Legislature.

“Common sense can win,” Cuomo said. “You can overpower the extremists with intelligence and with
reason and with common sense.”

President Barack Obama is to unveil his own proposals at a midday event today at the White
House, flanked by children who wrote to him about gun violence after 20 children and six adults
were killed a month ago at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school.

Obama favors sweeping gun legislation, including a ban on assault weapons. But he is said also
to be weighing 19 steps he could take through executive action. Those could include ordering
stricter action against people who lie on gun-sale background checks, seeking to ensure
more-complete records in the federal database and eliminating limits on federal research into gun
use. Some of those measures will be focused on enforcing existing laws.

The package also will include efforts to stop bullying and boost availability of mental-health
services.

But Congress would have to approve any ban on assault weapons and ammunition magazines holding
more than 10 bullets, along with a requirement for universal background checks on gun buyers. \

In New York, owners of an estimated 1 million previously legal semiautomatic rifles, such as the
Bushmaster model used in the Newtown tragedy, will be allowed to keep their guns but will have a
year to register them with police. The sale of more such weapons is prohibited.

The measure, in addition to outlawing a broader array of military-style weapons, also restricts
ammunition magazines to seven rounds — down from the current 10 — creates a more-comprehensive
database of people barred from owning guns, and makes New York the first state to require
background checks to buy bullets. The system also will help flag customers who buy large amounts of
ammo.

In another provision, therapists, doctors and other mental-health professionals will be required
to tell state authorities if a patient threatens to use a gun illegally. The patient’s gun then
could be taken away.

Richard Aborn, president of the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City, said Cuomo clearly
understood that gun violence is a complex issue requiring broader solutions than banning a
particular weapon. “I think that’s an important message for the nation,” Aborn said.

In contrast, the National Rifle Association said: “These gun-control schemes have failed in the
past and will have no impact on public safety and crime.”

“While lawmakers could have taken a step toward strengthening mental-health reporting and
focusing on criminals, they opted for trampling the rights of law-abiding gun owners in New York,
and they did it under a veil of secrecy in the dark of night,” the NRA said.

The proposal was not directed at and will have no impact on hunters or sport shooters, Cuomo
said.

New York’s Senate, which is run by a Republican-

dominated coalition, passed the bill by a vote of 43-18 on Monday night. The Assembly,
controlled by Democrats, approved it 104-43 yesterday afternoon.

Republicans complained that the measure was rammed through the Legislature and infringes on the
Second Amendment right to bear arms.

“A lot of people say, ‘Why do you need these guns?’ ” said Assemblyman James Tedisco, a
Schenectady Republican. “It’s part of the freedoms and liberties we have. … It’s for our public
safety. It’s to protect us from our own government.”

He said the legislation is dangerous because it gives people a “false sense of well-being.”

“You are using innocent children killed by a madman for your own political agenda,” he said. “
You are actually making people less safe.”

Tom King, president of the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, questioned whether
other states or the federal government would follow New York’s lead, and he said he expects the law
to be challenged in court.

Previously, New York law on assault weapons banned semiautomatics that have detachable magazines
and at least two military-type features, such as a pistol grip, folding stock, muzzle-flash
suppressor or bayonet mount. The new law outlaws weapons with just one of those features.

It also requires background checks for even private gun sales, except those among immediate
family members.

In addition, the new law requires handgun owners to renew their licenses every five years, and
it increases prison sentences for using guns in various crimes or taking them onto school
grounds.

“By making this a priority, the governor has not only saved lives but will hopefully inspire
leaders in Washington also to take swift action,” said Dan Gross, president of the national Brady
Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

“When there’s a pileup of events, when the federal government does not do it, the state of New
York has to lead the way,” said state Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, a Brooklyn Democrat and
co-sponsor. In a concession to the pro-gun side, local authorities will be allowed to withhold the
identities of registered gun owners — an issue that erupted recently when a suburban New York City
newspaper published the names and addresses of gun owners in its readership area.